Don’t back BJP, it opposed quota: Siddaramaiah to backward class

Kalaburagi: Declaring that the BJP was a party of upper castes who were opposed to reservation for the downtrodden, former CM Siddaramaiah on Sunday asked backward class (BC) voters in Chincholi Assembly constituency not to support its candidate in the by-election.

 Addressing a convention of the Kuruba community organised at Chincholi town, Mr Siddaramaiah said the BJP had tooth and nail opposed the Mandal commission report which gave reservation to BCs. "The BJP did not want benefits to reach the BCs. Eventually the Supreme Court had to intervene in the matter. So the BCs should never support BJP," Mr Siddaramaiah declared.

Referring to the petition filed by former Judge Rama Jois challenging reservation in the SC, Mr Siddaramaiah wondered why BJP leaders Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa and Mr K.S. Eshwarappa not prevent Mr Jois from going to court? He also flayed the recent decision by the Modi led government to accord 10 per cent reservation to the poor among the upper castes. “Have they initiated any such measure for BCs and minorities? The BJP leaders opposed the move by my government to give reservation in promotion to SC/ST employees in government service. But I extended the benefit through an ordinance. It was challenged in the SC, which has now upheld our decision. This makes it clear who is in favour of reservation and not", Mr Siddaramaiah stated.

He pulled up the BJP for not fielding a candidate belonging to either BCs or minorities  in LS elections in the state. "What was Mr Eshwarappa doing when the BJP was not doing anything for BCs?", he asked.

Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge called upon  voters to reject the BJP candidate as the saffron party was against the concept of social justice and was bent on changing the Constitution.